Wow!

Time is flying! The past 5months have been intense, emotional, physically and mentally tough, and amazing at the same time! I have truly challeneged myself to the extreme and am so proud of how far I have come this far. Never in my life have I been an athlete, but now I am beginning to feel like one!

Thanks to support from friends and family like you, TEAM In Training coaches, mentors, and TEAMmates, I am confident that I will successfully be able to complete this years Bank of America Chicago Marathon in a little over 5weeks. I'm not striving for a time, but more for a fantastic experience, and to have fun. (And with TEAMmates like mine, it's a fact that we WILL have fun!)

What an eye opening experience this has been for me... when my runs get tough I think of all the people that I am running for, who battle their blood cancer every single day. I say to myself: "You are healthy. You are lucky. You are capable." and am so proud to be able to support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

August 28th was my very first ever half marathon! (Peapod Half Madness Half Marathon) It was fantastic! A little hilly, and challenging, but a lot of fun! I beat my goal of 2hours and 15minutes with a finishing time of 2hours and 13minutes. No, I wasn't fast, but I did it, and I did it all on my own. And I was proud.

I am sad to say that it will be nice to have an option of sleeping in on Saturday mornings after the marathon.. (instead of waking at 4am for a 12+ mile run) but....I don't think I can let all my hard work just go! I am excited to continue running half marathons and smaller races, and keeping in shape, and carrying on the spirit of TEAM, wherever my runs take me.

Thanks again to all who have supported me in the past 5months, it has been so much easier because of you!

I can't believe it!

Only 2 1/2 Weeks until my very first HALF MARATHON, *and* 7 1/2 Weeks until the Bank of America Chicago Marathon!

This upcoming weekend is my 16mile long Team run. So far I am feeling confident and excited. (Okay and maybe sore and a little nervous) But I am still far from my fundraising minimum... I need YOUR help!

Please consider passing up your morning latte or lunch out to donate to this fantastic cause, where 100% of donations are used for patient support and research for blood cancers.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement! I couldn't have come this far without you!

Wow. Today I ran my second 10k!

[My first 10k was The Frontier Days Stampede Race, July 3rd, and I was proud to say I ran the 6.2mile run in under an hour (my goal!)].

Today however, at the Fleet Feet Women's 10k, it was very hot and humid on the lakefront, with no breeze at all. At mile one my split was around 7:30, which shocked me, but by mile 3, I was in full sun for 2straight miles and I slowed down significantly. At mile four, I felt my shoe tearing away at my left heel. OUCH. There was nothing I could do but keep running.

I finished strong in 1:02, only 3minutes less than my last 10k time, and it was WAY hotter! I was proud of my time, considering the circumstances. I was exhausted, and sore, but happy. I immediately took off my shoes at the finish line and my entire heel was in fact, torn to pieces. I also acquired 3 new blisters. That's what happens when it's hot, and your feet sweat and rub together. I think I'm going to smother myself in body glide or Vaseline from head to toe from now on.

Now this week my TEAM run on Saturday is 12MILES! (Oh crap…) I don’t know if it’s physically possible for me to run 12miles yet… this will be interesting… Because it’s an “ALL TEAM” run, My TEAM (North), East, South, and West will ALL be running together at the lakefront path, Saturday morning, to do the 12miles together. There will be close to 400 TEAM Mates running. How cool is that? I have met some friends that will last a lifetime on my Team, and they have helped push me way beyond my own expectations. It’s pretty amazing to say the least.

6weeks from today I will be running my very first HALF Marathon in Batavia, and 9weeks from my Half marathon, I Will be running 26.2 Miles in The Bank Of America Chicago Marathon. Wow. Who would have thought that Summer/Fall of 2011 would be the time for me to push myself beyond what I ever thought was possible?

I couldn’t do all of this without the support of my family and friends. The text messages, facebook posts, E-mails, support, and kind words instill more motivation and encouragement than you could ever possibly know. I am SO lucky to know such amazing people, have the best family, and such wonderful friends.

I love you all.

Friends and family..

it's already June 12th and training is going fantastic! Lot's of 5am alarms, sweat, I-pod playlists, and even some tears; Tears of happiness, tears of hope, and tears of accomplishment. I am incredibly proud of how far I have come thus far. I have my first ever race on Sunday, July 19th (father’s day). It is the Chicago Rock 'N Roll 5k. (3.1miles).This race has live bands throughout the course for runners and spectators. It's really neat! Hopefully this 5k will seem like a piece of cake after this past week’s 7.5mile group run. (I finished in 66minutes with my TEAM running partner, Karen.)

Then, July 17th I have my first 10k (6.2miles) it is the Fleet Feet women’s 10k. I'm pretty excited! This will be my summer of races, because I also need to add a half marathon in the mix... because after MUCH convincing from my coaches, mentors, and my TEAM running partner, Karen, I have officially switched from the Chicago Half Marathon to the Bank of America Chicago Marathon with TEAM in training. 26.2 miles is certainly a beast to say the least, but with the support from my family, friends, and TEAMmates, I know I can do this. I'm taking the plunge. From my first ever race (5k) to my first ever marathon, this will be a summer to remember.

I have not yet met my fundraising minimum. Please forward this to any friends and family who may be interested. The more money LLS raises, the closer we get to a cure.

Thanks again for your support!

GO TEAM!

XoXo, Jacqueline

I(Karen, Me, and our mentor, Elizabeth)

Welcome!

As if working full time, going to school, and trying to maintain a social life wasn't enough, I'm signed up with TEAM in training again! If you haven't heard-- I'm training to run in the Chicago Half Marathon, September 11, 2011 as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I am running for a cause.- to honor all individuals who are battling blood cancers. I need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

Please consider making a donation to support my participation in Team In Training to help advance LLS's mission. ANY donation is greatly appreciated! I challenge you to pass up your 4$ latte, fast food lunch, or magazine one time, or even for a week and donate to this wonderful cause to help me reach my goal. No donation is too small.

Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. If you are looking for true entertainment, check out my blog: http://jaxrace.blogspot.com where I will be sharing each amazing, inspirational, and humorous moment of training along the way.

Thanks in advance for your support!

XoXo,

Jackie Petzel

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